I pack mine full (Duets ,Troms and Frigidairs) leaving enough room for them to move freely about. I mean business washing clothes for two teenage kids, a triage nurse, a construction worker,five dogs and myself. I wash pillows,sofa cushions,dog beds,bloody nurse outfits,king size bedspreads, tennis shoes, car Mats and area rugs in them. I use Gain (not HE) detergent and fabric softener. I will admit, I rigged them to use more water ( it now fills up just past the window.base.) than before but that really made a big difference. Just recently I washed the eight foot hall runners,one at a time with the kitchen slices .They came out so clean that Gretchen assumed they were new.